US, Pak ink $ 750 mn FATA agreement

Islamabad, Oct 1: The US and Pakistan have signed an agreement paving the way for a 750-million-dollar aid package to Islamabad from Washington under the 2.3-billion-dollar FATA Sustainable Development Plan (FSDP).

Senior representatives of the US and Pakistan signed the five-year agreement for development of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a US Embassy press release said.

“The US government, on behalf of the American people, understands the importance of delivering resources quickly and effectively to bring essential services to the people of the FATA," US Agency for International Development (USAID) Pakistan Mission Director Anne Aarnes said after signing the bilateral agreement with Economic Affairs Secretary M Akram Malik.

The new agreement will be used to support programs in capacity building, livelihoods, agriculture, micro and small and medium enterprises, health, education and infrastructure development in the FATA, the Daily Times reported.

Earlier this month, a USAID document revealed that the Pentagon could play a pivotal role in the development programmes earmarked for the FATA.

"The USAID and the US Embassy's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) will be the principal USG (US Govt) agencies dealing with development programmes. This joint programme will be closely coordinated with the US Department of Defence," said the document.

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